Magnus Theatre facts for kids
Magnus Theatre in the renovated Port Arthur Central Schoolhouse (1884)
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| Address | 10 South Algoma Street Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada |
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| Coordinates | 48°26′13″N 89°13′29″W / 48.43695°N 89.22472°W |
| Public transit |  Thunder Bay Transit[[|3C]] [[|3J]] [[|3M]] [[|9]] [[|11]] [[|13]] |
| Website | |
| http://www.magnustheatre.com | |
The Magnus Theatre is a professional theatre company located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It was started in 1971 and is the main theatre for Northwestern Ontario. It is also known as The Dr. S. Penny Petrone Centre for the Performing Arts.
Contents
The Story of Magnus Theatre
How Magnus Theatre Began
Magnus Theatre was founded in 1971 by a British director named Burton Lancaster. He had a great idea to create a new theatre company. He worked with Dusty Miller, who was a former mayor of Thunder Bay, and Carol Bell, a drama teacher. Together, they gathered people from the community to help make the theatre happen.
The first home for Magnus Theatre was a small, old building in the East End of Fort William, which is now part of Thunder Bay. Even though it was small, it had a special charm. It had enough space for a stage and all the important things a theatre needs. Burton Lancaster worked hard to turn this small hall into the professional theatre company that Magnus is today.
Growing and Becoming Well-Known
By 1977, Magnus Theatre had become the only professional theatre company between Winnipeg and Sudbury. This was a big achievement! It received support from important groups like the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council. The City of Thunder Bay, local businesses, and people who loved theatre also helped support it.
Over the years, different Artistic Directors have led Magnus Theatre. Each one helped the theatre grow and become more famous across Canada.
- From 1977 to 1982, Tibor Feheregyhazi focused on connecting with the community. He helped build a strong audience for the main shows.
- After Tibor, Brian Richmond took over from 1982 to 1987. He helped Magnus become well-known across Canada by putting on new Canadian plays. Many of these plays were later performed by other theatres, which put Magnus Theatre firmly on the map for Canadian theatre.
- In 1987, Michael McLaughlin became the Artistic Director. He brought the focus back to the community and helped grow the local audience even more. He also started a successful "Theatre in Education" program. This program helped build strong connections between Magnus and the community.
- From 1992 to 2016, Mario Crudo worked on making ties with the community even stronger. He also helped create new interest in the main shows and supported the development of new plays. He also expanded touring and outreach programs for adults in the region.
- Currently, Thom Currie is the Artistic Director of Magnus Theatre.
A New Home and Special Recognition
In 2001, Magnus Theatre celebrated its 30th Anniversary Season in a brand-new building. This new theatre was built next to the historic Central School House. The old school building now holds Magnus's offices. Central School was the very first school in the City of Port Arthur. In 1884, a piece of Waverley Park land was given for the school to be built.
The renovation of the school building also helped protect and improve the Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District. Magnus Theatre was renamed in honor of Dr. S. Penny Petrone, who was a very generous supporter of the theatre.
In 1998, Magnus Theatre received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Arts from the Ontario Arts Council Foundation. This award recognized how much support the theatre received from private businesses and the community. It showed that the hard work of the theatre's management and board to raise money was successful.
As of 2025, renovations to the schoolhouse part of Magnus Theatre are complete. These changes created a new studio theatre, offering even more space for performances and creative work.
